Rivet setting device



Patented June 25, .1940

UNITED STATES PATENT v OFFICE 8 Claims.

The present invention relates to a new and improved device for quilting two or more layers of material where one side is inaccessible, and more particularly for tufting matresses, cushions,

l automobile seats, davenports and any upholstered articles where tufting is desirable.

One of the objects of the present invention resides in the provision of a novel tufting device which does not unnecessarily cut or injure the tick or outer covering of the upholstered article.

Another object is to provide a new and improved tufting device which is operable to insert the tuft element from the exterior through the material to be tufted, and then to fasten the tuft M element at the inside of the material.

A general object is to provide a tufting device which is simple and inexpensive in construction, which is easy and convenient to operate, and which results in the saving of time and labor.

Further objects and advantages will become apparent as the description proceeds.

In the accompanying drawings,

Figure 1 is a side view of a tufting device embodying the features of my invention.

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary sectional view on an enlarged scale of the device taken along line 22 of Fig. l and illustrating one step in the tufting operation.

Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 2 and illustrating another step in the operation.

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of one form of tufting element adapted for use with the device.

Fig. 5 is a perspective view illustrating the shape of the tufting element after the tufting operation.

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of a modified form of tufting element.

Fig. '7 is a perspective view of a modified form of awl forming part of the tufting device, and adapted for use with the tufting element of Fig. 6.

Fig. 8 is a side view of a modified form of the device.

Fig. 9 is an edge view, on a reduced scale, partially sectioned along line 9-9 of Fig; '8.

Fig. 10 is a transverse sectional view taken along line ill-ill of Fig. 9.

While the invention is susceptible of various modifications and alternative constructions, I have shown in the drawings and will herein describe in detail the preferred embodiment, but it is to be understood that I do not thereby intend to limit the invention to the specific form disclosed, but intend to cover all modifications and alternative constructions falling within the spirit and scope of the invention as expressed in the appended claims.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, the tufting device constituting the illustrative embodiment of the invention is especially adapted for mattresses with a resilient core, such as inner.- spring mattresses having multi-ply quilted top and bottom portions, but it will be evident that the device may be used advantageously on many other upholstered articles, such as cushions, pads and seats, where tufting is desired, or generally for quilting two or more layers of material where one side is not conveniently accessible. To illustrate the tufting operation, a section of the quilted wall of an inner-spring mattress is shown in Figs. 2 and 3. This mattress wall section comprises a relatively thick layer H of compressible padding material such as cotton,an outer fabric tick or covering l2, and an inner fabric lining l3. It will be understood that the lining I3 is not accessible from the exterior since mattresses customarily are fully closed before being tufted.

The tufting device comprises an awl or needle i l having an elongated stem l5. and a sharply pointed head 16 on one end of the stem and adapted to be forced through the mattress wall from the exterior to the interior. The pointed head it may be provided in any suitable form, and is herein shown as tapered, with a triangular tip and a hexagonal base, to define longitudinal edges facilitating penetration of the mattress wall by the awl i l. The base of the awl head I6 is larger than the stem l5 so as to define an outwardly facing transverse shoulder ll.

The tufting device also comprises a suitable hollow body It in which the awl stem i5 is operatively mounted.

In the present instance, the

body l8 has an end wall 19 formed with a tubular extension 20 which constitutes a riveting abutment, and formed with an axial bore 2! in which the awl stem I5 is slidably disposed. The body l8 also has a transverse wall 22 connected by spaced parallel side members 23 to the wall l9, and formed with a guide bore 24 aligned with the bore 2! and slidably receiving an actuating plunger 25 in one end of which the awl stem I5 is removably secured.

The awl Ml may be reciprocated-by any suitable means, and is especially adapted for manual actuation. To this end, a stop collar 26 is formed on one end of the plunger 25, and a coiled compression spring 21 is disposed about the plunger in end abutment with the collar and the wall 22. It will be evident that the spring 21 tends to hold the collar 26 against the wall I9, and

thereby to maintain the awl M in its outermost position of movement. A finger grip 28 secured to the outer end of the plunger 25 aifords means for moving the awl I4 against the action of the spring 21. The body l8 has a hand grip 29 to facilitate use of the tufting device and manipulation of the finger grip 28 with one hand.

Referring to Figs. 1 to 5, the tufting element is in the form of a metal rivet 30 having a tubular shank 3! with a head 32 rigid on one end. The other end portion of the shank 3| is formed with a plurality of longitudinal slots 33 defining peripherally spaced arms or prongs 34 pointed at their free ends. The prongs 34 are weakened intermediate their ends, and preferably also at their junctures with the solidportion of the shank 3|, as by means of notches 35 and 36 to define transverse points of bend.

In use, the rivet 30 is slipped over the awl point It onto the shank IS, the ends of the prongs 34 flexing outwardly and then snapping inwardly into abutment with the shoulder ll. The length of the awl shank I5 is such that when the collar 26 engages the wall la the rivet head 32 is closely adjacent the abutment 210, and

the length of the nonslitted portion of the rivet shank 3! is approximately equal to the compressed thickness of the mattress wall after tufting. Where the material to be tufted or quilted is of a clifierent thickness, an awl l4 and rivet 353 of corresponding lengths may be substituted. Initially, the ends of the prongs 3d are bent slightly about the notches 35, as illustrated in Figs. 2 and 4, so as to conform to the taper oi the a T-r'i point it and to facilitate clinching.

The awl i l with the rivet 30 thereon is now inserted through the mattress wall, thereby forming a hole 36 snugly embracing the shank til. it will be seen that the prongs 34 by reason of their engagement with the shoulder II are guided the awl point It without interference through the mattress wall as shown in Fig. 2. Pressure LS now applied through the medium of the abutment 26 against the head 32 of the rivet 3!], and thereby against the outer surface of the mattress wall to compress the latter approximately to the length of the solid portion of the shank iii. In this step, the lining I3 and the inside of the mattress wall, which is supported by the mattress core, remains substantially flat. While the mattress wall is held compressed, the awl i4 is pulled outwardly relatively to the body l8 by means of the finger grip 28, and in the course of this movement, the shoulder I7 acting against the ends of the prongs 34 clinches the latter by bending them radially outwardly at the weakened junctures 36 and back on themselves at the notches 35. After the rivet 30 is clinched, the awl l4 may be withdrawn through the shank 3|, the ends of the prongs 24 slipping over the shoulder H as illustrated in Fig. 3. When the tufting device is removed, relieving the pressure on the rivet 30, the head 32 and the bent prongs 34 retain the mattress wall under compression, and the pull of the tick Q2 results in fiexure of the lining l3 to complete and center the tuft.

It will be evident that the tuft does not require more than one perforation of the mattress wall in which it is secured, nor perforation of the opposed mattress wall, as where a double end needle is employed, and hence avoids unnecessary cutting of the tick. Also, the tuft is self-contained in one wall, instead of extending completely through the mattress, and hence will not pull out by reason of tensibn on the tick when the mattress is bent. The tuft is held securely in place and the tui'ting element when in the form of a tubular rivet 30 as shown constitutes a ventilating eyelet. The tufting device permits easy and convenient clinching of the rivet from one side of the mattress, and in general results in a substantial saving in time, labor and expense.

A modified form of tufting rivet 30 is illus trated in Fig. 6. The rivet 3!! has a head 32*, and a plurality of wire prongs 34 four being shown. To define the points of bend, the prongs 34 are bent inwardly at 35 and preferably are bent outwardly slightly at 36 If desired, the shank l5 of the awl is may be formed adjacent the shoulder II with longitudinal grooves 37 (see Fig. 7) in which the end portions of the prongs 3 3 are adapted to rest.

In the modifiedform illustrated in Figs. 8 to 10, the tufting device is adapted to be held in one hand while the awl is retracted by the other hand. Thus, the device has an awl l-l with a stem l5 and a pointed head l6 defining a shoulder Il The stem I5 extends slidably through a bore ill in a bushing 20" fixed in one end wall W of a hollow body or housing I8 The free end of the stem I5 is removably secured in the end of a rack bar 25 which has a collar 26 on one end adapted for engagement with the bushing 20* to determine the extended position of the awl it, and which extends at the other end through a guideway 24 in a wall 22 connected to the wall i9 by side members 23 A coiled compression spring 2'! may be provided on the rack bar 25 in abutment at its ends against the wall 22 and the collar 26 to hold the latter yieldably against the wall l9 Rigid with the body 58* is a hand grip 29 for holding the tufting device or tool.

To provide means for actuating the awl it, one side of the 'bar 25 is formed with a longitudinal series of rack teeth 38. A pinion 39 on a shaft 411 meshes with the teeth 38. The opposite ends of the pinion shaft 39 are journalled in bearing brackets 4| and 42 on opposite sides of the body Ill and one end of the shaft is provided with a handle 43 for actuating the rack bar 25*.

If desired, stop means may be provided for limiting the extent of movement of the rack bar 25 away from the wall l9. In the present instance, this means comprises a pin 44 projecting laterally from the collar 26 into a longitudinal spline groove 45 in the inside of one of the members 23, and a screw 46 threaded through this member and having a pin 41 projecting into the groove in the path of the pin 44. The aforesaid stop means is particularly desirable when the spring 2'! is not used.

Except for the manner of operation of the awl l4, the operation of this form is substantially the same as that in Figs. 1 to 3. During perforation of the mattress wall, pressure is applied by one hand against the handle 43 in a counterclockwise direction as viewed in Fig. 8, and by the other hand against the handle 29'. Thereafter, while the pressure is maintained on the handle 29 to compress the mattress wall, the handle 43 is rotated in a clockwise direction to retract the awl M and thereby clinch the inner end of the tufting rivet.

It will be evident that I have provided a novel tufting device for quickly, conveniently and securely tufting upholstered articles. The device is particularly useful for blind tufting, where one bit iii)

side is inaccessible or not visible. in general, the device may also be adapted for riveting various kinds of materials together, for example, paper flies and superimposed layers of fabric or leather.

The rivet per se is covered in my copending divisional application Serial No. 310,488, filed December 22, 1939.

I claim as my invention:

1. A rivet setting device comprising, in combination, an elongated body having a handle on one end and an end wall on the other end with an abutment face, an operating plunger slidable longitudinally in said body and having a collar at one end engageable with said wall, a guide wall in said body for said plunger, an awl having a pointed free end and having a stem slidable through said end wall and removably secured to said plunger, the base of said pointed end being larger in lateral dimension than said stem so as to present a shoulder in. spaced opposed relation to said face, spring means between said collar and guide wall for urging said awl into projected position, and a handle operatively connected to said plunger and adapted to be grasped with said first mentioned handle by the hand of the operator while pressing against said first mentioned handle, to retract said awl.

2. A rivet setting device comprising, in combination, an elongated body having a handle on one end and an end wall on the other end with an abutment face, an operating plunger slidable longitudinally in said body and having a collar at one end engageable with said wall, a guide wall in said body for said plunger, an awl having a pointed free end and having a stem slidable through said end wall and removably secured to said plunger, the base of said pointed end being .larger in lateral dimension than said stem so as to present a shoulder in spaced opposed relation to said face, spring means between said collar and guide wall for urging said awl into protracted position, a gear rack rigid with said plunger, a pinion meshing with said rack and having a shaft journalled in said body, a handle on said shaft for rotating said pinion, and stop means for limiting retraction of said awl.

3. In a rivet setting device, an awl comprising a stem, and a pointed head on one end of said stem and defining a shoulder at its base about said stem, said stem having a plurality of longitudinal peripherally spaced grooves adjacent said shoulder.

l. A rivet setting device comprising, in combination, a body presenting an end face, an awl having a stem slidably mounted in and. projecting from said body and having a head on the outer end of said stem, said head being larger in transverse dimension at its base than the contiguous portion of said stem to define a shoulder in spaced opposed relation to said face and being pointed to facilitate perforation thereby of the material to be riveted, said awl being adapted to receive on said stem a tubular rivet having a head on one end engageable by said face and having free longitudinal end prongs engageable at their ends with said shoulder and deformable radially outwardly, and means for retracting said awl into said body with said rivet in position on said stem and projecting through said material, whereby to compress said rivet axially between said face and said shoulder to clinch said prongs and then to permit withdrawal of said head past said prongs and through saidrivet.

5. A rivet setting device comprising, in combination, a body presenting an end face, an awl having a stem slidably mounted in and projecting from said body and having a head on the outer end of said stem, said head being larger in transverse dimension at its base than the contiguous portion of said stem to define a square shoulder in spaced opposed relation to said face and being pointed to facilitate perforation thereby of the material to be riveted, said awl being adapted to receive on said stem a tubular rivet having a head on one end engageable by said face and having free longitudinal end prongs adapted for positive abutment at their ends with said shoulder, and means for retracting said awl into said body with said rivet in position or. said stem and projecting through said material, whereby to compress said rivet axially between said face and said shoulder to clinch said prongs and then to'permit withdrawal of said head past said prongs and through said rivet.

6. A rivet setting device comprising, in combination, a body presenting an endface, an awl having a stem slidably mounted in and projecting from said body and having a head on the outer end of said stem, said head being larger in transverse dimension at its base than the contiguous portion of said stem to define a shoulder in spaced opposed relation to said face and being pointed to facilitate perforation thereby of the material to be riveted, said awl being adapted to receive on said stem a tubular rivet having a head on one end engageable by said face and having free longitudinal end prongs engageable at their ends with said shoulder, a stop member adjustably connected to said and and engageable with said body to limit the outermost position of said head, spring means tending to urge said stop member against said body, and means for retracting said awl into said body against the action of said spring means with said rivet in position on said stem and projecting through said material, whereby to compress said rivet axially between said face and said shoulder to clinch said prongs and then to permit withdrawal of said head past said prongs and through said rivet.

7. A rivet setting device comprising, in combination, a body presenting an end face, an awl having a stem slidably mounted in and projecting from said body and having a head on the outer end of said stem, said head being larger in transverse dimension at its base than the contiguous portion of said stem to define a shoulder in spaced opposed relation to said face and being pointed to facilitate perforation thereby of the material to be riveted, said awl being adapted to receive on said stem a tubular rivet having a head on one end engageablev by said face and having free longitudinal end prongs engageable at their ends with said shoulder, a stop member adjustably connected to said awl and engageable with said body to limit the outermost position of said head, spring means tending to urge said stop member against said body, and gear rack and pinion means operatively connected to said awl for retracting said awl into said body against the action of said spring means.

8. A rivet setting device comprising, in combination, a body presenting an end face, an awl having a stem slidably mounted in and projecting from said body and having a head on the outer end of said stem, said stem having a plurality of longitudinal peripherally spaced grooves adjacentsaid head, said head being larger in transverse dimension at its base than the conti'guous portion of saidstem to define a shoulder lib dil

Bil

"i aaom'za in spaced opposed relation to said face and being pointed to facilitate perforation thereby of the material to be riveted, said awl being adapted to receive on said stem a tubular rivet having a head on one end engageabie by said face and having free longitudinal and prongs adapted to lie in said grooves and engageable at their ends with said shoulder and deformable radially outwardly. and means for retracting said awl into said. body with said rivet in position on said stem and projecting through said material.

' JOSEPH W. BOWERSOX. 

